CBD COP13 – A warm welcome and agriculture firmly on the table

More than 190 government decision makers have gathered in
Cancun, Mexico for the Conference on Biological Diversity (CBD). With just four
years remaining to achieve the Aichi targets, the worry is high that the world
has not done enough to stop and reverse the massive loss in biodiversity.

Achievements of the Aichi targets will be critical for
achieving the three-other historic global agendas agreed last year, the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement
on Climate Change.

Rafael Pacchiano Alamán, Minister of Environment and Natural
Resources of Mexico, opened the conference highlighting how this was the first
time that government representatives from all sectors were involved in CBD.

“Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism - all these
sectors are represented here today. The presence of these people in such an
important meeting and the reason we invited them is because we are all involved
in biodiversity. It is important for all human beings and is at the foundation
of all of our livelihoods,” said Alaman.

Chun Kyoo Park, Director-General of the Nature Conservation
Bureau, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea noted that the global
community has made noticeable achievements in conserving biodiversity, and it
remains high on the agenda, named in 15 out of 17 SDGs.

Miguel Ruíz Cabañas, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs
and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, talked of the
incredible advances in technology the human race has made, but warned that the
further advanced we become the more hard truths we must face.

“With major advances, such as the Hubble Telescope, we
conclude we are working on the only planet we can inhabit. This is the only
planet that can support life. We must look after it. Biodiversity is life.
Currently around 17,000 plants and animals are in danger of extinction, and we
know we will not survive if we carry on like this. We are the only species
conscious of our ability to destroy, and we must ensure we reverse the damage
we have done,” said Cabanas.

Helen Clark of the United Nations Development Programme
said: “We are in Cancun to reflect on the progress made and the outlook for
achieving the Aichi targets by 2020. In the past 30 years, the world has witnessed
huge development, but biodiversity has paid a heavy price.”

“There has been a huge effort in the last 25 years from
countries in CBD to expand protected areas both on land and in oceans,"
said Ishii. "We would be in much worse shape today in CBD’s absence. However,
we must recognise our efforts have not been sufficient.”

“There is an argument
that we have entered the 6th great extinction. We now have no option
but to transform food production and agricultural production systems.”

Despite the negativity and doubts surrounding our ability to
reach the Aichi targets, there was a sense of optimism in the air. For the
first time, all sectors are coming together for a common purpose. People are
united in their goal to protect biodiversity, recognising that tourism,
agriculture, fisheries and forestry all have a major role to play in the
effort.